Left Behind - The Review

Left Behind, a
novel first released December 31, 1995 by Tyndale
House and later turned out to become a series was written by Jerry B. Jenkins and Tim LaHaye. The Left Behind series
encompasses various series from the 16-novel-series to the Kid Series that has
40 different books. A story-telling form is given to A Novel of The Earths’ Last Day which was the first book and other
books in the series to a specificeschatologicalreading of the ChristianBible,
in particular, theBook of
Revelationwhich was inspired bydispensationalismandpremillennialism.

Of all the books released, seven of the adult titles have
reached #1 on the bestseller lists for the New
York Times, USA Today and Publishers Weekly. The pacing, action and
reflection of the public’s concern about the Apocalypse as it was portrayed in
the Book of Revelation is one of the reasons given for the books’ popularity.

Novel of the Earths’ Last Day starts with events that take
place on the day of rapture and two weeks prior to that time. In his 747, the
pilot Rayford Steele is
pensive concerning Irene, his wife’s annoying bond to following religious ways
and considering the option of making a move on Hattie, the pretty flight
attendant. Rayford Steele had made plans on how he would leave the plane on
autopilot and go see Hattie for a quick chat.

The whole left
behind series is based on the tribulations of the converts on earth after
rapture has taken place. The book views different characters like Rayford
Steele, Buck Williams, Pastor Bruce Barnes and Chloe Steele. Successful books
had additional characters like Pastor Tsion Ben Judah, Leah Rose, and the
Miklos out of many.

The book has received
lots of diversified criticism from different sects of Christianity, other
religious groups and nonreligious groups. Jerry
Falwell of the American Evangelical
Christian Community said: “In terms of its impact on Christianity, it’s
probably greater than that of any other books in modern times, outside the
bible” but there were completely antagonizing reviews to this by others with a
different religious viewpoint and nonreligious reviewers. Some reviewers also
believed that it has been the best Christian Fiction series, a good blend of
science-fantasy and horror published on paper though the Biblical Discernment Ministries considered the fictionalizing of
the Scripture a flagrant offense but considered the theology presented in the
books as intolerable.

Michelle Goldberg believes the series to be an attack on
Judaism and liberal secularism and that the end times in which the series are
set seem to reflect that particular view of multitudes of Americans including
many prominent conservative leaders.

Catholics
believe that the books are written from a Protestant viewpoint which results in
making people believe the books to be anti-Catholic since many Catholics were
not raptured and the new pope was the head of the new false religion and the
former pope was described to have embraced some of the views of Martin Luther,
the Father of Protestantism, and this was the reason for him to have been
raptured. Though some reviewers believe that the rapturing of the pope was
showing a support to the false ecumenical concept of evangelical Catholicism,
they believe that Jenkins and LaHaye are joining hands with Billy Graham, Chuck
Colson and the rest of Catholic sympathizers to blur the clear line of
demarcation between true Christianity and apostate Christianity.

Some
evangelicals are concerned about the message of the book. They have objections
with the lack of scriptural evidence for the pre-Tribulation Rapture which is
the basis for the book. The book supposes that the Christian churches will not
be present for the final witness nor need to prepare themselves in the faith
for that possibility. Evangelicals with a hold to Post Tribulation Rapture,
amillennialism, or forms of preterism use this as a fundamental basis for
discussion. Most notable premillennialists see the basic belief system backing
the series to be flawed due to its picking and choosing scriptures to come to
the conclusion that Jesus will “gather the elect” prior to the tribulation,
contrary to what Jesus teaches in Matt, Mark and Luke. Though some premillennialists accepted many
of the basic beliefs behind the series, they described the problems wrong with
the specific prophetical teachings in the series. An example of this happening was Chang Wong in
The Mark when he receives both the mark of the beast and the sealing of the
Lord and he is later accepted into heaven, despite having the mark, because he
was drugged and forced to have it against his own free will. This has made some
readers to question Christians with the Mark of Beast could still be saved. The
academic Dean of the Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary, Lorren L.
Johns, opines that: “At the end of the day, this series is
ultimately a rejection of the good news of Jesus Christ. I say this because it
rejects the way of the cross and Jesus’ call to obedient discipleship and a new
way of life. It celebrates human will to power, putting Evangelical Christians
in the heroic role of God’s Green Berets. Love of enemies is treated with a
misguided strategy associated not with the gospel, but with the Antichrist.”

The Lutheran Church
reported that “the ideas expressed in the Left Behind series are in many ways
contrary to the teaching of Holy Scripture. Though containing a fictional story
line, the books promote a theology that is, in important respects, at odds with
the biblical revelation.” The Left Behind series presents the interpretation of
Revelation as encouraging a highly individualistic approach to salvation that
eschews responsibility for performing good deeds or missionizing. The novel
portrays those who have received the beasts’ mark as not being able to be saved
and the only way for the believers to survive is punishing one’s enemies and
saving oneself. Social justice seemed to be rarely a focus and it was even
considered to be a distraction to believers from their steadfast focus on their
salvation and the salvation of their family, friends or community.

The authors seemed to portray in their books a context
that applauded killing those who are antagonizing them in their fight towards
resolving social problems. Particularly, David
Carlson, a Professor of Religious Studies and a member of the Greek
Orthodox Church, wrote that the theology sustaining the series promotes a
deformed view of the Christian faith that embraces war and disaster, while
dismissing peace efforts in the Middle East and elsewhere-------- all in the
name of Christ. Harvey Cox, professor of divinity at
Harvard believes that a portion of the books’ fascination was in the
“lip-licking anticipation of all the blood”, the author of Rapture Exposed: The Message of Hope in the Book of Revelation,
Barbara Rossing gave her opinion that the books glorify violence.

Claims by the authors that there have been records of
thousands of their readers who have felt what they called a Christian
conversion after reading the novels seems truthful to some group of people but
scholars, one out of many who is Frykholm
reported that there has been no documentation of any reader experiencing a
Christian conversion. Upon Frykholms’ request for evidence on the claims of
conversion, Tyndale House could only submit seven cases out of which four
turned out to be hearsay and the other three were readers who had rejuvenated
their slipping faith in Christianity.

Amazon ratings bring the Left Behind series to No 11
under Science Fiction and Fantasy, 18 in Science Fiction, 21 in Fantasy and
23,733 in Books.

In 2001, a reader of the series reviewed the novel on
amazon and he said “The book revolves around some central characters. They are
all involved with the Church in one way or another. Eventually you see most of
them “converted” into Christians.” He shares his opinion that the characters
felt they had a mission of converting others. He continues “……there is also
some romantic “tension” thrown into the mix.” He agrees with other views that
the characters seem not be developed well but they could still connect with
readers and he ends his review with a recommendation for Christians to read the
book.

Another reviewer suggested that the book seemed to be
rather light. Excusing Rayford, he described the characterizations as lacking
depth and inconsistent. He believes the authors have made too visible the good
and bad of the story. He continues that it would have been better if it had
been a television miniseries.

Another reviewer had a totally different opinion from
others. He believed that the plot lines were ridiculous and the only reason he
was able to read 3 books was because of his curiosity to see what the book of
Revelations had to reveal but beyond that, his curiosity was not enough to make
him keep reading the book.

Looking at all perspectives of all these criticisms and
after reading the books, it can be said that the Left Behind series has been an
average work of fiction but has not been a very recommendable book for
Christians and the public at large to view as talking about the happenings in
Revelations. The book has in no way given credit to the author of salvation
which should have been its greatest priority.

Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Left_Behind_(novel)

http://www.rapidnet.com/~jbeard/bdm/BookReviews/left.html

https://www.amazon.com/Left-Behind-Novel-Earths-Last/dp/1414334907Do you a product review or description, then buy my gig on Fiverr https://www.fiverr.com/s2/721a5543eb

Left Behind - The Review
Reviewed by olanibi raphael
on
16:43:00
Rating: 5